The first day of the RYA Match Racing Open Championship at Weymouth yesterday (17 September, 2001) saw a solid start for the teams from GBR Challenge. Both Ian Walker and Andy Green scored three wins in their three races.

In Group A, Andy Green’s team had an exciting first race, with the GBR Challenge skipper overhauling Ian Williams on the final run to take victory by less than a metre. Green went on to beat Paul Campbell-James and Barney Chandler to lead the group.

Ian Walker, helming for the first time in Match Racing since university, steered his team to the top of the leader board in Group B, having successfully fought off Paolo Cian in the last race of the day. This victory built on earlier triumphs against his GBR Challenge team-mate Chris Main and Mark Campbell-James

Commenting on the first day’s sailing, Walker said “It has been 10 years since I have helmed during a match racing event and, as a team, we’re thrilled to have won all three races. Today’s results say a lot for the guys who are crewing for me during this event.”

GBR Challenge crews

Ian Walker

Julian Salter

James Stagg

George Skoudas

Ian Budgen

Andy Green

Ado Stead

Richard Sydenham

Chris Mason

Mark Sheffield

Chris Main

Nik Pearson

Derek Clark

Jonathan Taylor

Jim Turner

Results

Group A

A Green, 3 wins, no losses, – 3 points

I Williams, 2 – 1, – 2 points

B Chandler,2 – 1, – 2 points

A Cornah, 1 – 2, – 1 point

P Campbell-James, 1 – 2, – 1 point

J Feldt, 0 – 3, – 0 points

Group B

G Brady, 3 – 0, – 3 points

I Walker, 3- 0, – 3 points

C Law, 1 – 2, – 1 point

M Campbell-James, 1 -2 , – 1 point

P Cian, 1 -2, – 1 point

C Main, 0 – 3, – 0 points